Review on 🔩 Milescraft 1326 PocketJig300 - Comprehensive Pocket Hole Jig Kit with Heavy-Duty Design by David Underberg

Right out of the box I made a test sample out of pressure treated Southern Yellow Pine 2x4. It felt like drilling into hardwood. My project (see photo) was to attach cedar bottom rails to the railing posts on my deck. I assumed cedar would be much easier to drill; However, drilling into pockets required considerable force on the drill bit, which was turned at top speed with Ryobi's new 18V cordless drill/driver with 1/2" chuck. The drill did not give shavings, but rather something like sawdust or powder. I had to constantly remove cutting debris by drilling just a small distance (0.2 inch) and then backing the drill 1/2 inch or more. The chisel got very hot, causing the surface of the pocket to become hairy or "rough" rather than smooth. After only about a dozen holes, my new Ryobi's battery died. I was surprised because a battery gave me several hours of working time for other tasks. Now I'm wondering if this is typical of this product and if I should buy another bit, maybe from Kreg (if compatible) before proceeding with this project. Therefore, I am not satisfied with the performance of this tool.